MR HOWARD ELLIOTT’S ADDRESS

Evening Star, Issue 18057, 26 August 1922, Page 4

MR HOWARD ELLIOTT’S ADDRESS

TO IHE EDITOH. Sir—As a Catholic mother, 1 wish to make a public protest against Mr Howard Elliott’s ‘ remarks at his meeting. When Mr Elliott said the Christian Brothers hoys were not fit to mix with the public school boys ho insulted every Catholic mother in Now Zealand. My children and 1 are Now Zealanders born and bred. Can Mr ‘Elliott say the same? In the Great War I gladly sent my husband and niv eldest boy, a lad of seventeen to do their bit. Is this their reward, that their women and their dear little loin are to be insulted by a paid agitator . Mr Elliott talks a lot about loyalty. What has he done to show his loyalty? I do not mean talk, for talk is cheap. Every mother knows how hard it is to make ends meet at the present time, so they will understand how many a Catholic mother has to sacrifice in order to send her children to Catholic schools, because she wishes them to receive religious tramhm in their most impressionable years. As Britain stands for liberty of conscience, surely wo are justified. The poet has truly said :

The infant reared alone for _ earth May live, may die, to curse its birth; Is that a mother’s love?

What is tho object of this cowardly attack on the Catholic hoys? Is it a copying of the German plan of fighting tho men through their women and children? After the pain and worry of tho late war surely we mothers deserve something ’better than this insult. No sane person can see any good to be gained by these attacks. Mr Elliott is sowing the wind regardless of who reaps tho whirlwind. Every decent person can admire an honorable foe, even if they don’t agree with him; so let Mr Howard Elliott fight the men, but leave the women and children alone. As our Lord has said, “ As you do to these, My little ones, you do also unto Me.” —I am, etc., Justice. August 24.